Suspect in stabbing pleads not guilty

BANGOR — A bright pink scar ringed the neck of an Eddington man Friday when he pleaded not guilty to trying to murder his estranged wife and the man he reportedly believed was her new boyfriend in June before trying to slit his own throat.

He was indicted earlier this month by the Penobscot County grand jury.

A trial date has not been set.

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Witmer is being held at the Penobscot County Jail and is expected to undergo psychological evaluations before seeking a bail hearing.

He allegedly attacked his 36-year-old wife and a 41-year-old teacher and part-time karate instruction she was seeing on Sunday, June 30, as her three children, ages 7 months to 9 years, were sleeping upstairs. The children were uninjured.

Witmer’s wife suffered defensive wounds to her forearms, according to court documents. The male victim has been released from the hospital and is expected to recover, according to the Penobscot County District Attorney’s office.

The teacher suffered 11 stab wounds to the back. Before both his lungs collapsed from his wounds, he managed to prevent Witmer from injuring his wife more severely, according to police reports.